She made that drink last
a long, long time
Not because she was trying
to pinch a penny or save a dime
but because her eyes were focused
on those 2 cubes of ice
And the images seen within them...
not very nice

I didn't understand the faint smile
she wore back then
She'd look at the ice, glance away,
and back to the ice again
And I didn't understand,
didn't know what to say
To her odd demeanor
Her melancholy way
at that moment
on that day

But now I get what it is she saw
Images...
Images of being away from her mother...
Her mother couldn't afford to care for them all, so
for a time she lived apart from her sister and brother
Never could understand why she was sent away
Or why the woman in her temporary home, abused her

Images...
Last day in high school had to drop out
Needed to work, needed more money
Some kids used to laugh when she wore the same
old clothes, but nothing about that was funny...
at all...
Nor was hearing that she was too pretty
to cook and clean
What in the hell did that really mean?

And at that moment, so many years later
Feeling trapped, just stuck
Options seemed so few, what to do?
Images...
Born with a veil, but now she was down on her luck
That midwife stole that sheath of protection
Now she felt she lost her divine connection
to the world...
Bringing the cigarette to her lips,
Inhaling a long, drawn out draw
Gathering herself, she headed toward the door
If I understood then, I would have told her what I saw....

I didn't need ice to see what she was
Always honored her family, always cared for them
Folks called her "sis" cause she had a warm heart,
never leaving a person out on a limb
She cooked mouth watering meals
and washed clothes spotless by hand
Quite a knee slappin sense of humor
And a sense of wisdom at her command
I need to apply her teachings much more often...

"Why do you stare at me so much?", she
asked me from time to time
I tended to well up with tears at that question.
No response seemed to have sufficient reason or rhyme
but the reason was...I just...loved her
My admiration for her...so raw
Wish I could've told her that the images I viewed
were much different than those images that she saw

I once was blind but now I see. I don't know how many of us can say that with truth, but I think you can after reading this. You've brought new meaning to great imagery and that's just the half of it. Imagery that's real to the touch and defined Beauty that's unmistakebly rare as a precious stone right before our eyes. I see ya! and you got me wanting go get my eyes checked too!

when I read this, I felt a styling similar to Sister Maya Angelou, of course with your own unique timbre. But the poetic depth and imagery are what captured me. You have taken the story and in it, I felt time slow right down as you relayed a life story within what could have been a few moments.
You are very talented and I enjoy reading your work.

HI Sis
Yes indeed
wonderful wonderful wonderful
I as well applause you for
writing this beautiful piece that
had to have come deep from within
Releasing a deep sharing that place us there
within the flow reach, we are indeed touch by this scribe
sis..much love

This piece made you think of your mom, Desert Storm? Thank you for sharing that sis.
Phynxofkmt, you humble me. Thank you for saying how my words brought you into that life. I noticed your talent from the first pice of yours I read sister.
You're right Bluewater, this piece did come from deep within, and I thank you for your oh so kind words.